Residents of Lake
George, NY are awaiting the decision of New York State's Adirondack Park
Agency on whether it will allow the experimental use of the controversial
herbicide fluridone to control invasive plant watermilfoil in Lake George,
a 28,000 acre lake in upstate New York. A local environmental group, the
Adirondack Council, has told the agency that the pesticide's use will
threaten residents and potentially contaminate their property. The Adirondack
Park Agency is expected to make a decision as early as December 13, 2002.

The Lake George Park
Commission plans to dump the herbicide into four bays to determine whether
it could be used to help control invasive, non-native Eurasian watermilfoil.
The Adirondack Council maintains that the Commission has not "adequately
checked" to see whether the affected residents draw water from the
lake for drinking and other uses.

The Adirondack Council
believes the Lake George Park Commission has an obligation to prevent
people from accidentally drinking this chemical herbicide, or using it
on their lawns or gardens. According to the pesticide's label, it is illegal
to apply within a quarter mile of anyone's water intake in the concentrations
proposed by the state through the Lake George Park Commission. "Lake
George is one of the few large lakes left in America that is still pure
enough to drink," said Adirondack Council executive director Brian
Houseal. "A lot of people along the shoreline of Lake George, both
homeowners and businesses, still use lake water in their homes and on
their lawns and gardens."

As all parties await
the decision that will determine if the experimental permit will be issued,
Mr. Houseal added, "It's really disappointing that we have to do
this We thought the people who were pushing to get the permit for
herbicide use would be more conscientious toward the potential impact
on their neighbors."